Viva La Revolution from Jo Boaler

My greatest honour in attending the NCTM conference in Boston was to meet Professor Jo Boaler and get her to sign a copy of her newest release.

I have just finished reading it- yes I know that’s sad when I’m holidaying in the U.S.

I will give some key points from the preface with the sole intention of persuading you to buy your own copy for thorough digestion.

Timed tests and speed competitions can cause early onset of math anxiety for many students.

Students with a “growth mind-set”- believe intelligence and “smartness” can be learned- proceed to higher levels of achievement, engagement and persistence.

That Maths is a gift is a myth.

All students can learn Maths to high levels with good teaching experiences.

Working on complex Maths enables brain connections to develop.

When students make a mistake in Maths their brain grows, synapses fire and connections are made, and they don’t even need to know they’ve made a mistake, for their brain to grow. Struggle is a component of the key to brain growth.

A final statement that really struck a chord for me was

and that “all children deserve the very best mathematical future possible.

Thank you Jo for your insight, research and hope that Maths is the No. 1 subject in the near future.